Clinical case:

We present the case of a woman with malignant degeneration of a germ cell tumor of benign histology, attended at a fourth level institution of complexity, located in Guadalajara, Mexico. A review of the literature published in the Medline databases via PubMed, Embase and SciELO were performed using the search terms: "Germ cell tumor", "mature teratoma", "squamous cell carcinoma". The search was limited by language (articles in English and Spanish).

Conclusions:

The malignant transformation of a cystic teratoma is rare and its diagnosis should be suspected when there are rapidly growing tumors in patients between 50 and 60 years old throughout imaging studies that point towards a dermoid cyst. Abnormal elevation levels of antigen for squamous cell carcinoma may raise the suspicion of the tumor, as does the elevation of CA-125, CA-19.9, and CAE. Surgery will always be the fundamental gold standard for the treatment associated with cytotoxic agents with platinum.